The Dallas Mavericks count themselves lucky to have added Mayo for this 2012-13 NBA season, and Mayo is confident that the new-look Mavericks can go far, even further, perhaps, than the super-hyped Los Angeles Lakers.

“We all think the same, and we all want to win,” Smith said. “Everybody wants [playing time], so the great thing about practice is that we all really go at each other and go hard. You know that I’m the same age as you, so if I’m getting a spot right, and you’re the same age as me, it’s hard to take that spot. Everybody battles.”